Just over 20 years after its discovery in 1940, the original cave, Lascaux I, was closed to the public in an effort order to preserve the ancient art. The carbon dioxide produced by the 1,200 people visiting the cave each day was taking a toll on the paintings.

Lascaux II, the first replica, located about 200 meters (650 feet) from the original cave, opened in 1983. Although it contains reproductions of two of the cave halls (the Great Hall of the Bulls and the Painted Gallery), that amounts to only half of the about 2000 paintings found in Lascaux I.

Excitedly, the reproductions in the travelling Lascaux III exhibit include scenes that are not in Lascaux II, and thus haven’t been seen since the original cave was closed to the public in 1963.